Thursday, December 29, 2022
Gregg Singer's reign as owner of the former of P.S. 64 is said to be over
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Workers arrive with construction materials at the former P.S. 64 on 9th Street
This past January, a court ruled that Madison Realty Capital, a $10 billion global private equity firm, can foreclose on the property. Although Singer is fighting that too, he appears to be running out of money. Singer now owes Madison nearly $90 million in interest and principal, along with late fees and interest charges of $30,000 per day, which started accruing as of the January 20 court judgment, according to a report compiled by a court-appointed referee.Singer's attorneys and Madison Realty Capital did not respond to numerous calls and emails seeking clarification on the current ownership status of the building or their intentions for it. Both sides were supposed to appear in court in June, but the meeting was postponed, so the fate of this old school is still in limbo.
Friday, December 16, 2022
Holiday wishes for the former Charas/El Bohio Community Center
Sunday, November 20, 2022
New murals depict LES history outside the long-empty CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center
Thursday, November 10, 2022
A march to 'give us back our community center'
Hey Billionaires! Give Us Back Our Community Center!Recently the former P.S. 64 ... fell into foreclosure. It is now in the hands of the Madison Realty group, "a vertically integrated real estate private-equity firm that manages approximately $9.5 billion in total assets on behalf of an institutional global investor base."These are the folks that currently hold sway regarding the future of our beloved community center.We need to let them know that: We Demand that the former P.S. 64 be returned to our Lower East Side community for use by our community. Protest at Madison Realty Capital offices: 520 Madison Ave. (between 53rd and 54th Streets).
At 1:30 p.m., we’ll send "A Message to You, Rudy." We'll march to protest Rudy Giuliani's underhanded sale of the property by picketing the RUDY SHOW at WABC Radio, 800 Third Ave. (between 49th and 50th Streets).
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Public art returns to the former CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Long-vacant P.S. 64 now being pitched for medical use, educational purposes
The redevelopment and historic restoration of this century-old landmark, a former New York City elementary school, can be transformed into a variety of modern, amenity-rich opportunities, including:• Student Dormitories• Education Center College• Satellite Campus• Medical Center• Nursing Home• Assisted Living
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Seth Tobocman on the story behind a long-covered mural on 9th Street
At its peak, it was used by thousands each year, and hosted a wide array of activity: community meetings, children’s programming, art exhibits, music concerts, film screenings, plays, dance recitals, bicycle recycling, construction training, a substance abuse treatment, and political organizing.
A 7-year-old drew this picture at a class here at Charas. The boy was upset because he and his family had found the body of a woman who had been decapitated on their doorstep. That was in the 1980s when they called the Lower East Side the warzone. Now all of N.Y.C. is a warzone. The world is a bad neighborhood. We need cultural centers like Charas more than ever to keep our sanity.
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Plywood removal at the former P.S. 64
"A 7-year-old drew this picture at a class here at Charas. The boy was upset because he and his family had found the body of a woman who had been decapitated on their doorstep. That was in the 1980's when they called the Lower East Side the warzone. Now all of N.Y.C. is a warzone. The world is a bad neighborhood. We need cultural centers like Charas more than ever to keep our sanity."Meanwhile, a tent or two with unhoused residents remains under the sidewalk bridge (the site of multiple sweeps by the city) ... as well as a sitting-in-a-car detail from the Massachusetts-based Madison Security Group hired to keep people (TikTokers!) from getting inside the building.
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Questions, and concerns, remain over private security detail outside the former P.S. 64
A security detail remains outside the former P.S. 64 (and later Charas/El Bohio Community Center) on Ninth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Another rally to return the former P.S. 64 to the community
Our treasured CHARAS/El Bohio was and continues to be a galvanizing force for good in the East Village.
— NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera (@CMCarlinaRivera) February 13, 2022
Proud to show love today with friends and neighbors, and look forward to working with @NYCMayor to return this cherished space to the community, its rightful owner. pic.twitter.com/V2FrDePaPh
Looking forward to working with @NYCMayor to preserve our beloved CHARAS / El Bohio Community Center. There is no reason why a precious building should sit vacant for decades while the need to connect families to services and resources is high. pic.twitter.com/0b9nVdidiR
— Harvey Epstein (@HarveyforNY) February 13, 2022
Tonight at 6:30, CB3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee will receive an update from the Charas Steering Committee. The public may attend via Zoom at this link. (This is the fourth item on the agenda.)On this Valentine’s Day Eve we aren’t asking for flowers, or chocolate or even a spa day, we’re asking for the return of the CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center!
— Senator Brad Hoylman (@bradhoylman) February 13, 2022
We’ve been fighting for 20+ years & we won’t stop until it’s once again serving the people of the Lower East Side. pic.twitter.com/9vCChszQCD
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Showing the former P.S. 64 some love during rally and press conference this Sunday
Join SOCCC-64, elected officials, community orgs, artists and activists this Valentine's Day eve to ask the City to return our beloved community and cultural center, CHARAS / El Bohio.This is an urgent call, as developer Gregg Singer, who purchased the building that housed CHARAS, former P.S. 64 at public auction in 2001, is now in default of his mortgage and is in foreclosure!We are rallying to urge the City to work with us to return our center, and we need everyone's help to make it a reality.